LA Angels: 3 offseason moves the Halos desperately need to make

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Mike Trout, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

The same movie the LA Angels have been playing since 2015 is getting old.

The best player in the MLB for 10 years running, some would argue, has made the playoffs one time in the past decade, getting bumped from the playoffs in the ALDS against the Royals.

The Angels have had talent, and have made obvious efforts to put winning teams on the field since 2014.

However, since that playoff birth in 2014, the Angels have proceeded to put one -yes, one – winning team on the field, going 85-77 in 2015. The Angels records for the following years were:

2016: 74-88

2017: 80-82

2018: 80-82

2019: 72-90

2020: 26-34 (60-game season)

2021: 77-85

For a team with the best player in the world, and now another generational talent emerging in Shohei Ohtani, that is downright unacceptable. Although ERA doesn’t tell the whole story, it is a good indicator of how a staff is performing, and how well a bullpen is shutting down high-leverage scenarios. The Angels ranking in the MLB by team ERA since 2016:

2016: 21st (4.28)

2017: 12th (4.20)

2018: 19th (4.15)

2019: 25th (5.12)

2020: 25th (5.09)

2021: 22nd (4.68)

Clearly, the front office addressing the Angels pitching staff and bullpen is long overdue. Here are 3 moves that the front office needs to make to address the team’s pitching woes.

Jun 4, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias (32) celebrates at the end of the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1st move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Add a proven closer

LA Angels’ Raisel Iglesias was dominant in 2021 for the Angels, tying Josh Hader at 5th in the MLB with 34 saves.

The Angels had lacked production from the closer position for a number of years. That is until Angels General Manager Perry Minasian pulled off a fleece of a trade, sending Reliever Noe Ramirez and cash to the Reds for Closer Raisel Iglesias in the 2021 offseason. Now a free agent, it is obvious amongst Angels fans that Raisel needs to be back in an Angels uniform to provide much-needed assurance at the back end of their bullpen. However, Iglesias or not, the Angels need to lock up another back-end of the bullpen guy. Other notable free agent options include Collin McHugh, Kenley Jansen, Ryan Tepera, and Kendall Graveman.

Alex Cobb, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

2nd move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Sign 1 top-tier starter, and 1 middle of the rotation starter

2021 offseason trade acquisition Alex Cobb turned in an impressive 2021 for the LA Angels, going 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 18 games started. Cobb was bitten by the injury bug late into the season.

The Angels need pitching in the worst way, and quality starting pitching has been absent from Angels’ rosters over the past 5 years. With the Albert Pujols contract now off of the books, the Angels have the money to make a move towards a quality arm that can sure up their rotation. However, with how truly bad their starting pitching has been, it is going to take more than 1 arm to put them on the road to success.

Notable top tier options in the free agent market include Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray, and Clayton Kershaw. Notable middle of the rotation options include Eduardo Rodriguez, Marcus Stroman, Anthony DeSclafani, and Steven Matz. One way or another, the Angels need to invest money into this market, and it’s not an option.

Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

3rd move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Sign a shortstop, without committing to one of the ‘Big 5’

The LA Angels have given Luis Rengifo a look at consistent playing time since 2018, and it is time they cut the chord.

Rengifo has gotten regular looks from the Angels staff since 2018 – and he has done nothing to prove his stay at the big league level. In 195 major league games, Rengifo has hit .216 with a .293 OBP, putting up a total fWAR of 0.1. Partially thanks to Rengifo’s struggles, the Angels have lacked production from the shortstop position for years, and with so many big names on the free agent market, it is going to be tempting for the front office to submit competitive offers on some of them.

Next. One Starting Pitcher the Angels Should Avoid

However, it is vitally important for the Angels to allocate the majority of their resources to their pitching needs, and stay away from the nine-digit contracts these free agent shortstops are bound to demand. The ‘Big 5’ of the offseason shortstops are Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Javier Baez, and Marcus Semien. Some options outside of these five, via free agency or trade, are Chris Taylor, Jonathan Villar, and potentially Ahmed Rosario.

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The Angels have had talent, and have made obvious efforts to put winning teams on the field since 2014.

1st move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Add a proven closer

2nd move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Sign 1 top-tier starter, and 1 middle of the rotation starter

3rd move the LA Angels desperately need to make: Sign a shortstop, without committing to one of the ‘Big 5’

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